MUNCIE, Ind. – The Toledo women's basketball team saw its six-game winning streak snapped on Sunday night in a 65-51 loss at Ball State.
The loss also snapped Toledo's 21-game winning streak against conference opponents. The Rockets' last loss vs. a MAC foe was an 88-76 loss at Bowling Green on Jan. 18, 2023.
The Rockets (12-4, 5-1 MAC) led the Cardinals (16-2, 6-0 MAC) by five at the end of the first quarter. However, UT was outscored 23-8 in the second quarter and trailed by 10 heading into halftime. The lopsided second frame, combined with a season high-tying 23 turnovers, proved to be too much for Toledo to overcome in the second half of its first MAC loss of the season.
"I'm really disappointed with the turnovers," head coach
Tricia Cullop said. "We had too many travels, too many situations that I think we'll be disappointed about when we look back and watch the film. But at the end of the day it's one game and we're going to treat it like that. Ball State is a really good team, and I thought we did some really good things against them. We'll learn from this game and get better. It's a painful learning situation, but we'll deal with it."
Quinesha Lockett led Toledo with 15 points, the lone Rocket to reach double figures.
Sophia Wiard nearly joined her with nine points, and
Sammi Mikonowicz contributed eight points and eight rebounds.
Sunday was Wiard's 139
th career game, which ties her with Naama Shafir (2009-13) for most games played by a Rocket in program history. Wiard broke Shafir's career minutes played record at Kent State last Wednesday.
The Rockets shot 42.9% from the floor, making 21-of-49 shots, and won the rebounding battle to the tune of 33-24. Ball State shot 49.0% (25-for-51) for the game and was even better in the decisive second quarter, knocking down 9-of-12 shots (75.0%) and 4-of-7 three-pointers (57.1%).
Four Cardinals scored in double-digits, with Madelyn Bischoff's 19 points serving as the high watermark. Ally Becki and Alex Richard had 16 points apiece and Nyla Hampton had 10 points.
Toledo's next game is Wednesday, Jan. 24 vs. Northern Illinois. To purchase Toledo Women's Basketball tickets, visit the Rocket Athletic Ticket Office at the Sullivan Athletic Complex in Savage Arena, contact the Rocket Athletic Ticket Office at 419-530-GOLD (4653), or go online to UTRockets.com/tix.
1st Quarter
- Quinesha Lockett knocked down a three less than 10 seconds into the game to get the Rockets an early lead.
- Ball State later used a 7-0 run to take its first lead of the night at 9-7 with 6:29 to go in the quarter.
- The Rockets responded with seven straight points to go up 14-9 at the 3:04 mark. Sophia Wiard started the scoring spurt with a three-pointer.
- Sammi Mikonowicz capped the scoring in the first quarter with a corner three to give UT a 17-12 lead heading into the second.
2nd Quarter
- Khera Goss' basket in the opening seconds of the quarter put Toledo ahead by seven, 19-12.
- Ball State grabbed control of the game with a 14-0 run to go up 26-19 and kept the Rockets off the scoreboard for over six minutes of game time.
- Wiard and Jessica Cook broke the scoring drought with back-to-back baskets that trimmed the deficit to three, 26-23, with 3:04 left in the half.
- The Cardinals ended the first half on a 9-2 run, and a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Madelyn Bischoff gave them a 35-25 lead heading into the break.
3rd Quarter
- Lockett and Hannah Noveroske scored on consecutive possessions to cut the deficit to single-digits, 41-33, at the 7:02 mark.
- Ball State answered with five straight points, but Emmi Rinat's three-pointer with 4:10 to go made it a 10-point game again, 46-36.
- The Rockets trailed by 11 points, 50-39, at the end of the quarter.
4th Quarter
- The fourth quarter began with back-to-back baskets from Ball State's Alex Richard that put the score at 54-39.
- Goss' layup at the 4:45 mark was Toledo's first field goal of the quarter.
- The Rockets scored the final six points of the game, but when the clock hit zeros they found themselves on the wrong end of a 65-51 decision.
